A MAN was arrested yesterday after the death of a cyclist in a road accident.

Window cleaner Kevin Frater, 38, had been riding a bicycle along a rural road not far from his home in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, on New Year's Day, when he was in collision with a vehicle.

The 38-year-old was thrown forward into the road and suffered fatal injuries.

Police said that the driver failed to stop.

The accident happened shortly before 8pm on the road between Bearpark and Ushaw College, near Durham, half a mile west of the Whitehouse Lane Junction.

Mr Frater was declared dead at the scene. Police launched an investigation to track down the vehicle and its driver, retrieving paint scraped from the car and other debris.

A 21-year-old man from Langley Park was arrested yesterday morning in connection with the incident and a maroon-coloured Vauxhall Astra was recovered.

The man was later released on police bail pending further inquiries. He has not been charged with any offence and is due to return to Durham City police station on February 27.

Forensic tests will now be carried out on Mr Frater and the car.

Inspector Dave Hammond, who is leading the inquiry, said he wanted to hear from anyone who used the road between 7pm and 8pm on New Year's Day.

He said: "We assume Mr Frater was on his way home at the time of the accident, but we need to build up a picture of where he has been before then.

"If anyone saw him cycling on that road at any point before he was struck by the car, we would ask them to get in touch."

Mr Frater was single and lived with his parents in Whitehouse Court, Ushaw Moor.

An inquest into his death is due to be be opened on Monday.

Anyone who has information about the accident, or may be able to identify the vehicle involved, is asked to contact Durham Police accident investigations unit on 0191-375 2159.